Sorry to be a downer, but a career in bike racing is a very hard life. Even if you are absolutely passionate about cycling it can get to be a drag when you factor in the travel and low pay. US Domestic team riders don't make much over 30K if they are lucky, and most of them end up selling the two bikes they get from the sponsors at the end of the year just to make ends meet. Then there's the joy of living out of your car for half the year as you travel to races around the country. All of that can be yours if you are lucky enought to have the genetics and the will power to train for 40+ hours a week. You will need to be a genetic lottery winner to be able to ride on the big teams in Europe.
The good news is that if you are truly serious about it, you will find out pretty quickly what your potential is as you participate in local and regional races. Try it for a couple of years and you will know if there's a chance.
If you like math, I suggest getting a degree in mechanical engineering and working for a bike company to design bikes and components as an alternate career path. Added bonus: you can do that past the typical mid-thirties age of retirement for a cyclist.
Remenmber, even if you don't make it as a pro, the local races can still be a ton of fun.
2006-12-11 04:55:13
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answer #1
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answered by Peter L 1
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The major races for cycling are
The Tour de France
Giro d'Italia
Paris Roubaix
Tour of Spain
Tour of California
World Championships
This is just to name the largest 5 or so. As for salaries, the low end for riders is 50k or more per year with top team leaders making in excess of 2million. However that is a very elite few. The Tour de France has a payout of around 400,000k and is split between teamates (this does not mean evenly either) who have helped the winner. Other teamates that may be off at other races for exp ample may not get a cut of the winnings. Top prizes like the Core States Classic (Lance Armstrong won) back in the 90's had a prize of 1million dollars. I do believe it is still the highest payout for winning (you had to win a series of races). Top riders though with sponsorships can make 7+ million, and Lance Armstrong his final year made a whoping 17million dollars. It is a difficult sport to excell in, and the best thing if you have a dream of joining the pro ranks is to start riding and winning some races. Good luck.
2006-12-11 01:46:40
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answer #2
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answered by ÐIESEŁ ÐUB 6
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There are many disciplines, e.g.:
Road/criterium, where most of the money is, big in Europe, Tour de France is the best-known event but there are also 3-week tours of Italy & Spain and many significant one-day and week-long (stage) races (e.g. Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, World Championships, Tour of Switzerland). A typical top rider's salary would be 1-2m euro + endorsements + share of prize-money + appearance fees. Prize-money (up to 400,000 euro for winning the Tour de France) is shared amongst the team. Most of a team's budget comes from its sponsors (hence all the advertising on the clothing).
As far as I know no one really makes a good living out of the other disciplines, but the best riders can earn enough to not have to work another job:
Track (sprinting)
Mountain bike (endurance & downhill events)
Cyclocross
BMX
Is it road cycling you are interested in?
2006-12-10 21:19:37
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answer #3
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answered by moblet 4
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Europe is where it is the most popular. The tours of Italy, France and Spain are the biggest races of the season, although there are other races all year from March through November. The Tours of California and Georgia are probably the biggest races in the US. I think the winner in the Tour de France got about $400,000 last year, but traditionally, the winner splits the money amongst his teammates. I'm pretty sure that all winnings go into a pool and are split among the whole team. The riders receive a salary in addition to any winnings.
2006-12-10 22:17:08
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answer #4
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answered by crazydave 7
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i love the words, the images, the relaxing, yet you need to grant yet another clue for me to be sure out the meaning. there is the cycle of up and down, a cycle of seasons, a cycle of thoughts. i love the line "mists upward push up in decision to grass and water." My recent idea is that you lost your glasses. those are the countless issues I see at the same time as i'm no longer donning contact lenses. yet i does no longer even evaluate a monocle a "cycle". A cyclops? tremendous imagery, yet you've stumped me on discovery.
2016-11-25 20:12:14
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answer #5
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answered by desantiago 4
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don't quit school or your day job because a career in cycling is nearly impossible, as with any career in sports.
Watch the DVD called "The Hard Road". It'll sober you up and make you think twice about your fantasies.
Top cyclists don't make much from races. They get paid from endorsements. They normally split race winnings with the team.
2006-12-11 18:09:07
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answer #6
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answered by ace 2
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i would love to become a pro. there are all sorts of tournaments, it all depends on your riding style. Prize money depends all on the event.
2006-12-11 11:50:59
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answer #7
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answered by bmx_4_life_in_da_510 2
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I don't think you keep the prize money - I think you make your living by getting sponsorships and then the prize money goes to your sponsor.
2006-12-10 17:55:55
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answer #8
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answered by Kacky 7
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